Max Verstappen has been on a rampage under the current set of F1 rules. He continues his dominant streak in the top tier of motorsport even during the 2024 season. Verstappen has already clinched four race victories, thanks to the impressive RB20. He has garnered high praise from a majority of his competitors. Therefore, in the midst of the reigning world champion’s dominant form, experts have deemed him ‘unbeatable.’
Verstappen’s performance trajectory in the previous season’s start was similar. It was evident that the Dutchman was on a clear path to defend his title. The situation for the reigning world champion was improving.
This quality was also apparent in the development and tuning of the RB20 to Verstappen’s preferences. The Red Bull advisor also mentioned that Verstappen and his race engineer were working in perfect harmony.
Additionally, Marko claimed that Verstappen was no longer “impatient” about his performances in F1. According to the Austrian, the Red Bull star aimed to secure pole position and race victory every weekend. His exceptional tire management skills further enhanced his chances of winning. Therefore, due to these circumstances, the three-time world champion was considered ‘unbeatable’ in F1.
Ferrari and McLaren have been consistently closing the gap on Max Verstappen and Red Bull since the start of the season. Therefore, updates throughout the season will see rival teams getting closer to the dominant front-runners. Helmut Marko believed that slow street circuits like Miami and Monaco could witness rival teams closing in on the Austrian constructor. Marko anticipated that Verstappen would face difficulties in securing pole position in these circuits.
The Chinese GP showcased significant pace improvement from McLaren as they secured a P2 finish ahead of Verstappen. Marko expressed his astonishment at this situation. However, the Austrian expected Ferrari to display more pace against Verstappen over the weekend. Unfortunately, Maranello failed to achieve a top three position in any of the racing sessions, resulting in a significant loss of points.
The 2024 season promises to be highly exciting for fans for various reasons. The top five teams are closely matched in terms of points, and any team can make significant progress. In-season upgrades for Mercedes could help them achieve smoother races as the season progresses. Only time will reveal how different teams resist Red Bull’s dominance.